RTH - SOLVED - out there in Death Valley and tailgate stuck closed

[ifsmithy]

Tailgate stuck - left side mechanism works but right side is seized shut. Can’t get to my food - so may have to leave my ‘out there’ camping trip tomorrow morning for more help…..
I have a rear shelf build so can’t get into the back and open inside tailgate to get to mechanism.
I unbolted the black plastic lever thinking I might be able to get into mechanism but not worried about it falling into tailgate….
Any ideas?
Gonna continue to search and thanks in advance

 

[ifsmithy]

the only thing I can thing is to unbolt my rear shelf system - slide it backward so I can remove the custom tailgate storage I installed (all 16 or so bolts).....

 

[NeverFinis]

Try to press the tailgate closed, especially the stuck side, while operating the handle.

 

[ifsmithy]

Try to press the tailgate closed, especially the stuck side, while operating the handle.

yeah tried that - jiggled wiggled stood on it jammed it shut.....

 

[ikarus]

I've been wondering about this because I've heard of it happening occasionally. I've heard that the plastic latch mechanisms can break.

My cruiser is in pieces right now so I just ran out to the garage to try an idea. I don't know if this works with the taillights in place - I had already removed both taillights and buckets - but there's enough room to slide a 10mm wrench in there and remove the bolts on the latch. It had just enough space to remove the bolts completely.

Underneath the lever mechanism if you'd like to see that as well:

 

[ifsmithy]

I've been wondering about this because I've heard of it happening occasionally. I've heard that the plastic latch mechanisms can break.

My cruiser is in pieces right now so I just ran out to the garage to try an idea. I don't know if this works with the taillights in place - I had already removed both taillights and buckets - but there's enough room to slide a 10mm wrench in there and remove the bolts on the latch. It had just enough space to remove the bolts completely.

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Underneath the lever mechanism if you'd like to see that as well:

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Good idea but looks like there is one Philips head screw keeping the taillights in place I can’t get too with the tailgate in place… thanks appreciate the help!

 

[ifsmithy]

@ikarus
I'm thinking of sacrificing that Philips screw head - I think I can hack off the end of the screw that is blocked by the tailgate and remove the bucket - can I then unbolt the latch that is closed permanently? The opposite side is being released by the lever. I can then drill out the Philips screw I cut and then put in another screw there afterwards. This would save me hours and hours of completely removing all the electrical lithium behind my rear shelf that also has to be removed?

 

[baldilocks]

Sounds like your introduction to fasting. This is a good practice.

 

[ikarus]

@ikarus
I'm thinking of sacrificing that Philips screw head - I think I can hack off the end of the screw that is blocked by the tailgate and remove the bucket - can I then unbolt the latch that is closed permanently? The opposite side is being released by the lever. I can then drill out the Philips screw I cut and then put in another screw there afterwards. This would save me hours and hours of completely removing all the electrical lithium behind my rear shelf that also has to be removed?

Hm, tough call. Are you talking about the lower phillips screw out of the two?

I guess you could also break your taillight, depending on how hungry you are. haha. Just break that flat plastic bracket being held in by the two Phillips and then replace your taillight or glue it back together, depending on how clean the break is.

I tried out a bike wrench with a 10mm end and it fit between the taillight and tailgate. About 1/8" thick. Don't know if you have one or if mountain bikers are in your area? I'm not sure if the latch would clear the taillight once unbolted though.

 

[ifsmithy]

Hm, tough call. Are you talking about the lower phillips screw out of the two?

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I guess you could also break your taillight, depending on how hungry you are. haha. Just break that flat plastic bracket being held in by the two Phillips and then replace your taillight or glue it back together, depending on how clean the break is.

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I tried out a bike wrench with a 10mm end and it fit between the taillight and tailgate. About 1/8" thick. Don't know if you have one or if mountain bikers are in your area? I'm not sure if the latch would clear the taillight once unbolted though.

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I think removing the taillight and bucket is the way forward - and then unbolting the latch. I headed home so can take care of it properly now. Thanks for the efforts here! Appreciated - I’ll let you know how it goes! Hoping to head back to Death Valley this weekend to continue my trip!

 

[ikarus]

I think removing the taillight and bucket is the way forward - and then unbolting the latch. I headed home so can take care of it properly now. Thanks for the efforts here! Appreciated - I’ll let you know how it goes! Hoping to head back to Death Valley this weekend to continue my trip!

Good luck, yeah let us know. I bet you can get away with just removing the taillight and leave the bucket in place.

 

[ifsmithy]

@ikarus - you are a star thanks so much - saved me hour and hours of work.
I sawzalled the lower screw head and brute forced the taillight - snapped a piece of plastic but can easily fix.
Gave me enough room to slide a 10mm wrench in between the boot and the tailgate to unbolt the latch - worked great.
Turned out my tools in the tailgate had knocked the mechanism apart - it wasn’t snapped!
Bit of epoxy and some reinforcement should fix the taillight - there was enough of the screw thread left to be able to pull it out with a pair of vice grips!
I can now feed myself
Thanks again - hope to pay it forward in the future!

 

[LongDuck]

Lemme guess where this happened; the road into Tea Kettle Junction down to The Racetrack?

We joked that section of "road" was graded by precision artillery fire. One guy in our group had his tail light bulbs shaken to death...

Death Valley!

 

[ifsmithy]

Lemme guess where this happened; the road into Tea Kettle Junction down to The Racetrack?

We joked that section of "road" was graded by precision artillery fire. One guy in our group had his tail light bulbs shaken to death...

Death Valley!

strangely enough no - while at the springs opening and closing my tailgate - the tools must have knocked the rod loose - figure when I set up camp next time I'll move them all into my sky box - don't like driving with anything heavy up there!

 

[reklund5]

I know this is too little too late for the OP but...seeing how easy it is for contents of the rear tailgate to jam up the linkage, EVERYONE with tailgate storage should do like @lelandEOD did. He was smart enough to drill some holes in the tailgate and put some rubber plugs in so one could reach in there and pop the latches with a finger or pair of needle nose if things get jammed up. The rubber plugs are only visible when the hatch is open, and have a factory-ish appearance. Here are some photos of mine for reference.

 

[ifsmithy]

I know this is too little too late for the OP but...seeing how easy it is for contents of the rear tailgate to jam up the linkage, EVERYONE with tailgate storage should do like @lelandEOD did. He was smart enough to drill some holes in the tailgate and put some rubber plugs in so one could reach in there and pop the latches with a finger or pair of needle nose if things get jammed up. The rubber plugs are only visible when the hatch is open, and have a factory-ish appearance. Here are some photos of mine for reference.

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excellent idea and will do this for sure! Thanks for the idea share!

 

[ikarus]

I know this is too little too late for the OP but...seeing how easy it is for contents of the rear tailgate to jam up the linkage, EVERYONE with tailgate storage should do like @lelandEOD did. He was smart enough to drill some holes in the tailgate and put some rubber plugs in so one could reach in there and pop the latches with a finger or pair of needle nose if things get jammed up. The rubber plugs are only visible when the hatch is open, and have a factory-ish appearance. Here are some photos of mine for reference.

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Awesome idea, thanks for sharing!

 

[landcrshr]

@ifsmithy glad to hear you got it figured out.
That was me out there with the white 80. Nice to meet you!

 

[ifsmithy]

@ifsmithy glad to hear you got it figured out.
That was me out there with the white 80. Nice to meet you!

Thanks - and great to meet you out there too!
cheers
ian